Chelsea will look to halt a frustrating dip in form when they welcome Everton to Stamford Bridge for Saturday’s Premier League clash. The Blues edged a 1-0 victory in April’s reverse fixture thanks to Nicolas Jackson’s strike, but they’ve since faltered, winless in three across competitions—including a 2-1 Champions League defeat to Atalanta that has them 11th in the League Phase, two points shy of the top eight. Domestically, a 3-1 loss to Leeds and goalless draw at Bournemouth have left them fifth, eight points adrift of leaders Arsenal but just one behind the Champions League spots. Alarmingly, they’ve squandered more points from winning positions at home this season (eight) than in their entire previous campaign. As the teams prepare for the highly anticipated Chelsea vs Everton clash, the stakes are high.
In stark contrast, Sean Dyche’s Everton are flying, unbeaten in five league games and keeping clean sheets in four of their last five outings. A 3-0 thrashing of Nottingham Forest last time out propelled them to seventh, two points off the top four and 11 clear of the drop zone. With 24 points from 15 matches—a tally that’s led to top-seven finishes in three of their previous four such seasons—Dyche’s men eye a third straight away shutout win, last achieved in December 2008. Yet history looms large: Chelsea are unbeaten in 30 top-flight home games against Everton (W17 D13), their longest such streak versus any foe, while the Toffees haven’t triumphed at Stamford Bridge since November 1994.
Football fans are eager for the thrilling Chelsea vs Everton match that is set to unfold this weekend.
The upcoming Chelsea vs Everton showdown promises to be a thrilling encounter.
Form Guide
Chelsea (Premier League): W W W D L D
Chelsea (all comps): W W D L D L
Everton (Premier League): D W W L W W
Head-to-Head
Chelsea 1-0 Everton (Apr 2024). Blues unbeaten in last 30 home league meetings; Everton winless in 20 Premier League away trips to Stamford Bridge under Dyche (D7 L13).
Team News
Chelsea: Moises Caicedo misses out on his final suspension game. Long-term absentees include Liam Delap (shoulder), Levi Colwill (knee), Romeo Lavia (thigh), Dario Essugo (thigh) and Mykhaylo Mudryk (doping ban). Wesley Fofana could return from an eye knock to pair Trevoh Chalobah at the back, while rested Cole Palmer is primed for an advanced role. Reece James may sit after midweek minutes, with Estevao and Alejandro Garnacho vying for wide berths over Jamie Gittens and Pedro Neto.
Possible Blues XI: Sanchez; Gusto, Chalobah, Fofana, Cucurella; Santos, Fernandez; Estevao, Palmer, Garnacho; Pedro
Everton: Seamus Coleman (hamstring), Jarrad Branthwaite (hamstring) and Merlin Rohl (hernia) remain sidelined, but Thierno Barry should shake off a minor shoulder niggle. Idrissa Gueye and Tim Iroegbunam are back from bans, with Gueye set to anchor midfield beside James Garner. In-form Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (four goals, three in his last four) could push forward ahead of Carlos Alcaraz.
Possible Toffees XI: Pickford; O’Brien, Keane, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; Garner, Gueye; Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish; Barry
Prediction
Chelsea 1-1 Everton. The hosts’ home dominance should keep it tight, but Everton’s defensive steel and momentum look primed to snag a gritty point on the road.
